The Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025, which apply in England to plants bred using new techniques like GE (gene editing), mean that such crops will be regulated differently to GM varieties.
Under the new rules, from November 2025 biotechnology and seed companies will be able to apply for authorisation to grow, sell and import PB seeds, plants, food and feed. This is a very significant and positive development since the UK left the EU, with the potential to bring new crop varieties to market here that would benefit farmers, consumers and the environment
EU position
However, in the EU, precision breeding (鈥渘ew genomic techniques鈥� NGTs to use the EU terminology) continues to be covered by GMO (genetically modified organism) rules, which are not fit for purpose or proportionate to the risks of precision-bred organisms (which do not contain DNA from an external source). 聽
New proposed rules to take NGTs out of the GMO regulations are quite far along the EU legislative process, which is very positive, but will likely not be in place for some time.聽
We do expect the government to seek an exception for the Precision Breeding Act but it is not yet clear what the nature of such a carve-out would be or the timelines, or how the conditions imposed by the EU to achieve it could be met.
皇家华人is concerned about the risk that this situation will cause a loss of momentum and increase in uncertainty that would be a barrier to investment in innovation and R&D pipelines for precision breeding.聽
The impact on British farming will depend on how technology companies react and how they will view England as a place to develop, trial and commercialise new precision bred varieties for the domestic market in the context of a UK-EU SPS deal.
Meanwhile, governments around the world continue to develop regulatory systems for GE separate from GM and it is farmers in those countries who will see the benefits of investment in these new genetic tools for crops and animals.聽
